Improvement in lead-pencils



PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH REOKENDORFER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN LEAD-PENCI LS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,360, dated January 6, 1863.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, J osEPH REoxENDoR- FER, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain Improved Black-Lead Pencil, forming a new article of manufacture; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, which I have prepared with the intention of procuring a patent therefor.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of my improved pencil, and Fig. 2 is a1ongitudinal section thereof. y

In most of the trades or professions in which lead-pencils are used, two or more' degrees of hardness or grades are required, and` it has been customary to employ different pencils for that purpose.

My invention consists in a pencil having lead of two grades of hardness, the softer at one end and the harder at the other, the whole forming a newr and improved article of manufacture. By making two grades in 'one pen- .cil the trouble and expense of keepingltwo pencils is avoided, and a new and very convenient article produced.

In the drawings the two grades are represented by different letters and by different degrees of shade, the lighter shade, A, being the harder black lead, or plumbago, and the darker shade, B, the softer material, which latter is capable of producing a darker mark than the former. The wood of the pencil is marked M, and is of the ordinary character. The different ends are designated on the exterior by suitable marks, and when the pencil is pointed at both ends either can be used at will, as the circumstances require or the taste dictates.

I prepare and apply the material in the ordinary manner, except that I apply a given grade only in one-half or about one-half of the length of the pencil, and apply a different grade in the remainder of the length of the pencil, or in the opposite end thereof.

[can make my improved pencils of different external shapes--such as cylindrical, hexagonal, octagonal, oval, Sac-to suit the different tastes or purposes of those who use them, and can provide a variety of grades, but always with one end harder than the other.

I propose to inish the exterior of the pen- V cils with a different polish or surface at the opposite ends, to aid in readily designating their relative hardness, and also to show more readily how much of each grade is consumed after the pencil has been some time in use.

I am aware that pencils have been heretofore made combining two colorssuch as red and blue-.in the same pencil, but such pencils have always had but a very limited use, and such I do not claim; but

Vhat I do claim as my invention is- The new article of manufacture herein described-viz., a wood-cased black-lead pencil, having different grades of hardness at the opposite ends, and indicating on its exterior the character and the amount remaining of each grade, substantially as above set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOS. RECKENDORFER.

l Witnesses:

THOMAS D. STETsoN, J UAN PAT'rEsoN. 

